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you’re taking the time to get to know who we are, what we do and,
what matters to our members and their families. We recently saw
a photo of you and your daughter wearing Boilermaker t-shirts. That
was great to see! What has surprised you most about these
meetings and our people?
Minister McNaughton:
This is something everyone may not know about me, but I grew up
meeting tradespeople because my parents owned a Home
Hardware. It was my first job and people throughout our town would
come in for all sorts of supplies so it was great because I met a
tonne of different people. Through those interactions, I gained a lot
of respect for them.
Since becoming Minister of Labour I’ve had a chance to put that in
tradespeople in the world. I’ve been out there meeting over 100
action. So, I’ve visited a lot of training centres to see firsthand how
labour leaders and even more workers. I have faith in them and
the various trades operate. It’s been an amazing education. I’ve
want a system that’s more flexible and adaptive, that will better
had a couple opportunities to get my hands dirty. I even got a
respond to the needs of business and allow more Ontario residents
chance to operate an excavator!
to join the skilled trades.
The best takeaway from these visits is the emphasis placed on
Of course, worker health and safety will always remain our top
safety. One of my goals as Minister of Labour is to ensure every
priority. The OHSA requires that an employer provide information,
worker across Ontario gets home from work every day, so seeing
instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or
one persistent theme in both portfolios is the need for more people
safety of the worker. Additionally, under the OHSA, employers and
in the building trades. There’s over $140 billion in infrastructure
supervisors are expected to take every precaution reasonable in
spending in the pipeline. Anyone who’s ever renovated part of their
the circumstances for the protection of the workers. Ultimately,
house knows how hard it is to find a skilled tradesperson. We know
everyone has a role to play and a responsibility for keeping
the province is going to need more carpenters, electricians, painters
themselves and their workplaces healthy and safe.
and plumbers, for example. These are well-paying, important jobs.
Peter:
I’m also conscious that we need to restore financial stability to
The Red Seal is seen as the gold standard for all trades. How will
Ontario. What I heard at the doors in my riding and throughout the
this new model impact that?
province, is that people were worried after 15 years of the previous
Liberal government’s financial management. We pay around $1 Minister McNaughton:
billion a month in interest on the debt we inherited! That’s funding Ontario will continue to participate in the Red Seal program that
that could be used for schools, hospitals or any number of things. supports inter-provincial credential recognition and labour mobility.
I’m committed to working with my provincial counterparts across
Of course, we must be responsible when we tackle the deficit and
the country to break down regulations that prevent workers from
I believe we are doing that.
using their skills across borders.
Peter:
We are skilled professionals. We’ve been building this country
safely, innovatively and productively for many years. The organized
trades turn out more apprentices than any other industry. We spend
over $500M of our own money annually across our 174 training
centres to ensure that we have the most qualified, best trained,
safest workforce out there. The Ontario Government has introduced
a new framework that will change how compulsory trades are
regulated. This new regulatory framework introduces a skill set
model that would allow anyone to do certain elements of work that
are currently within the scope of a restricted (compulsory) trade.
This poses much concern for us. How will you ensure safety is kept
as the utmost priority, especially amongst workers who won’t
receive the same training and education as our members currently
get?
Minister McNaughton:
So, as we know, if you want to do a high-risk task in Ontario you
have to be certified, not just in that action, but in all other actions
in that trade. We have a system right now where if a tradesperson
wants to become certified in another trade, they have to start again
as an apprentice. I believe Ontario has some of the best

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